British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the attack at a synagogue in Manchester, north of England, that left two people dead and three others seriously injured. The suspect in the attack was shot dead by police.
“I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall [Greater Manchester]. The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific,” said Starmer, who left a meeting in Denmark early upon hearing of the incident on Thursday morning.
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Starmer will chair an emergency meeting once back in London and has deployed “additional police assets” to synagogues across the country in light of the attack. “We will do everything we can to keep our Jewish community safe,” he said.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed that the suspect in the attack was “shot by GMP Firearms Officers” and is dead. The authorities earlier said it couldn’t be confirmed if the suspect had died “due to safety issues surround[ing] suspicious items on his person.” A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the scene of the crime.
Police first responded to a call at 9:31 a.m., local time, on Thursday morning outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area of northern Manchester, where attendees were honoring the Jewish Holiday.
The caller reported a suspect driving a car towards members of the public, followed by at least one person being stabbed. The suspect was then shot by armed police officers at around 9:38 a.m. and paramedics arrived at the scene shortly thereafter.
Police reported that “a large number of people” were at the Synagogue for Yom Kippur, and that a member of the public who witnessed the event responded quickly. This “allowed swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue.”
The Israeli embassy in the U.K. has condemned the act of violence.
“That such an act of violence should be perpetrated on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, in a place of prayer and community, is abhorrent and deeply distressing,” a statement from the embassy reads.
King Charles said that himself and Queen Camilla are “deeply shocked and saddened” by the attack.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services,” said the British monarchy in a statement shared with TIME.
“Today we have witnessed a vile attack on our Jewish community on its holiest day,” said Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. “We condemn whoever is responsible and will do everything within our power to keep people safe.”
Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader for England and Wales, said his party “stands with the Jewish community and everyone affected.”
Polanski, who is Jewish and grew up in Manchester, added: “So many of us are feeling the horrific scenes today that all come at a time of rising antisemitism.”
Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch called the attack “vile and disgusting,” adding that Jewish families attending the synagogue were “targets for violence.”
“My heart goes out to all those hurt and affected. I know many in our Jewish community will feel shaken. They deserve to know they are not alone,” she said.